Cover-operating mechanism



W. S. ORR

COVER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed 0(3(n 14) 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

990V A TTORNEY.S

May 4 1.92.6.

May 4 1926. v 1,583,604

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COVERv OPERATING MECHANISM Filed OGC` 14 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVLNTOR.

A TTORNI; f5

May 4,1926. 1,583,604

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COVER OPERATING MEGHANISM Filed oct. '14, 1924.

5 Sheets-Sheet :5

INI/IEN TOR.

. ITTORNEYJ',

- tion is to provide means whereby a cover of.

Patented Mayr 4, 1926.

UNITED s'rpxrrzs imgTi-:NT oFFicB.

'WILLIAM S. OBR, OF MASSILLON, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE CENTRAL STEEL COM-PANY, OF MASSILLON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COVER-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application led October 14, 1924." Serial No. 743,574.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. ORR, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Massillon, county of Stark, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and usefullmprovement in Cover-Operating Mechanlsms, ofwhich the following is a specification, the principle of the inventionbeing herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying that principle, so as to distinguish `it from other inventions.

The present improvements, relating, as indicated, to cover operatingmechanism, have more particular regard to the provision of improvedmeans for removing and replacing, as desired, the covers on soaking pitsand like furnaces'in which an opening 1s provided in the top for thepurpose of securing access to the furnace interior, whether this be tointroduce and remove ingots, as in the case of a soakin pit, orfuel, inthe case of furnaces of different type. Such covers ordinarily are quiteheavy, consistlng in the case of soaking pits of a steel casting withfire-brick lining inset.

One principal object of the present inventhis type may be more. readilymanipulated and without unnecessary jar or shock, particularly when thecover is being replaced inasmuch as this is liable to damage the edgeAof the furnace opening. It will be understood that any cracks leftaboutsuch opening will allow the escape of iiame and to furnace anddoor. it isnecessary that the door always have a tight fit so as tosecurely close the opening.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the followingdescriptiony setting forth in detail certain mechanismembodying theinvention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one ofvarious mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention maybe'used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the generalarrangementof a pit furnace equipped with my improved cover operatingmechanism certain portions of the upper carrying frame being brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a longltudinal section'of the same, taken on thevertical longitudinally disposed cradle 6.

plane indicated by the line 22, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section ofa detail taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3, Fig. 1; and Fig.'4 is a transverse section of another detail taken on the plane indicatedby the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

The pit furnace 1, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, is of the usualdesign, as is also in the main the cover 2 that is provided to seal theopenin 3 vof said furnace. The latter, in other wor s, consists of arectangular casting, the under side of which is hollow and faced withfire-brick 4 over the area corresponding with the opening 3 when thecover is in place.

On each side the casting that thus coni stitutes the cover is formedwith a laterally projecting web 5 to which is attached a Such cradle isthus attached to web 5 through the medium of two bolts 7 that passvertically through suitably spaced apertures in such web and registeringapertures in the respective lends of the cradle. As shown in the detailView of Fig. 3, such aperture in the case of the web is surrounded by anupstanding boss 8 that enters a downwardly directed socket 9 in the endof the cradle so as to hold the parts in proper alignment. The bolt isallowed a certain amount of play in the apertures in the web and cradleends, its

lower end being held in place by means of a key 10, whlle acompressionspring 11 is -interposed between the corresponding end of highly heatedgases with consequent damage- For the same reason' they cradle and acup-shaped washer 12' adjustably securedin place on the upper projectingend of the bolt by means of a nut 13.

Movably mounted, as will be presently described, so as to normallyproject over the furnace opening 3, as shown in Fig." 2, aretwohorizontally extending supporting arms lthat are connectedtogethe'rby transverse andl diagonal braces 16 sc ajstoconstitutea rigidframe structure. The outer ends of these arms are respectively connectedwith the corresponding cradles' by means of links 17 and-18 suchy lastynrientio'ned link including 'an inte Valupstandingarm 19 so as toconstitute 1n Aeffect` thereof a double arm lever that is fulcrurned onthe` support- -ing arm latits'point of` pivotal attachment thereto..- Athird link'20 is pivotally attached to'one vof the arms 15 and the innerend ofthe correspondingcradle, such link being substantially equal `inlength to the adjacent link 18 and parallel therewith so that althoughthe cover may be oscillated about the forward ends of said arm, it willnevertheless be maintained at all times with its under side in asubstantially horizontal plane.

The supporting frame structure for the door, which 'the arms 15 with thebraces 16 are thus seen to constitute, is oscillatorily mounted on atransverse shaft 21, the respec' tive ends of which are journaled inwheeled carriages or trolleys`22. The latter are arranged to run onparallel rails 23 that present a horizontal contact surface except attheir ends adjacent the furnace opening 3 where they slope downwardly atan angle of approximately 45 de ees towards such opening. Because of iewear that will Abe imposed in use on such downwardly inclined ends, ablock 24 of specially hardened steel is inset at this point in each rail(see Fig. 2). The rear ends of the respective arms 15 are provided withrollers 25 that, as best shown in Fig. 4, are guided on the under sideof the samefrails 23 on which the trolleys 22 run. The frame of thetrolley .22 ythat is located on the same side, i. e., in alignment withthe upstanding arm 19 of link 18, isprovided likewise with an upstandingarm 26 and this is connected by means of a link 27 with said arm 19.

The rails 23, it will be observed, are spaced suiciently far apart toafford ample clearance therebetween for passage of the cover 2 as 'thearms 15 are moved from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to theposition shown in dotted outline and as will be noticed, the inclinedportion of the rail provides a cam action to raise or lower the frameand cover. The first effect of such movement, due to the connectionafforded by link 27 between arm 19 of link 18 and arm 26 on -carriage ortrolley 22, will be to lift the cover as a result ofthe oscillationabout shaft 21 of this and the companion trolley as they move oii' theinclined portions 24 of 'the rails 23 onto the horizontal portions ofsuch rails. Once the cover is thus lifted, it will be carried at auniform height as the trolleys are retracted along the rails bycontinued movement of arms 15. The successive positions occupied by thelink connection just referred to in thus initially lifting the cover arelikewise shown in dotted outline on Fig. 2 and, as thereby made clear,the retraction of the forward ends of arms 15 is compensated for by theoutward swinging movement imparted to link 18, Ithe combined resultbeing that the cover is lifted in a substantially vertical direction,being prevented from tilting about the lower ends of links 17 and 18 bmeans of link 20, as hereinbefore describe Upon reverse movement of theparts, the cover will of course be lowered instead of raised, buti suchlowering movement will likewise be in a substantially vertical directionafter the cover has been brought into position over the opening 3. Whenit is finally brought into contact with the surround- For the `purposeof moving trolleys 22,'

and thus the arms 15, back and forth in the fashion just described, anysuitable operating means may be employed. In the drawings, however, Ishow a crank drive which permits of positive limitation of the loweringmovement of the cover and thus prevents any danger of slamming onto thefurnace wall surrounding opening 3. This drive comprises a motor drivenshaft 30, suitably mounted in a. supporting framework, to one side ofthe furnace,l or, in other words, at the outer ends of rails 23. Theelectric motor 31 and interposed reduction gearing 32 will be ofstandard construction. The respective ends of crank shaft 30 carryparallel cra-nk arms 33, the outer ends of which are pivotally connectedby means of link 34 with shaft 21, on which arms 15 are mounted. It willaccordingly be seen that oscillation of shaft 30 in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 2, will draw the trolleys 22 and thus thearms 15 to the right, while oscillation` of the shaft 30 in the oppositedirection will produce a reverse movement of 'the parts in question. Itwill be noted that when shaft 30 has been thus oscillated in acounter-clock- Wise direction to bring the cover to its closingposition, the cranks 33 and links 34 are los fully extended so that nofurther movement in this direction can by any possibility be imparted tothe trolleys 22. Furthermore, the later stage of such movement isrelatively\slow due to the change in the angular position of the cranksan as a result s lamming of the cover is substantially entirely avoided.Instead, it will be lowered gently and in such manner as to avoid damageto .the wall of the furnace surrounding opening 3.

The total angle of oscillation of the cranks 33 will be slightly lessthan 180 degrees, as

ing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. Y

I therefore particularly point out and distinctl claim as myinventionz- 1. In mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith a horizontally disposed cover; of a horizontally movable frameextending over and suitably attached' to said cover; means for carryingsaid frame horizontally, and inset cam-actv'ing means in the lpath ofsaid means for raising or lowering the frame.

2. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with ahorizontally disposed cover; of a horizontally movable frame extendingover and suitably attached to said'cover; means for carrying said framehorizontall a track for supporting said means, `an Wear-resistant insetcam portions along said track for raising or lowering the frame. ,y

3. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with ahorizontally disposed cover; of a horizontally movable frame extendingover to said cover; means for carrying said frame horizontally, a trackfor supporting said means, and sloping-wear-resistant inset portions atthe end of the track adjacent the furnace for raisingv or lowering thesaid frame.

4. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with ahorizontally disposed cover; of a track extending horizontally from thenormal closed position of said cover, the end of the track adjacent suchnormal closed position of the cover incliniiig downwardly; supportingmeans movable along said track; a frame foscillatorily supported by saidmeans; means connecting the inner end of said frame with said cover; andmeans between said cover and said supporting means for maintaining thecover horizontal upon movement of said supporting means.

5. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with ahorizontally disposed cover; of a track extending horizontally from thenormalclosed sition of said cover, the end of the trac adjacent suchnormal closed position` of the cover inclining downwardly; supportingmeans movable -along said track; a frame oscillatorily supported bv saidmeans; link means connecting the inneriend of said frame with saidcover; and equalizing connections between said supporting means and linkmeans whereby the cover is maintained horizontal upon movement of thesupporting means.

6. In mechanism of the character described, tlie combination with ahorizontally disposed cover; of parallel rails extending horizontallyfrom the normal closed position of said cover, the inner ends of saidrails incliniiig downwardly; trolleys movable along said railsrespectively a transverse shaft connecting said trolleys; a frameoscillatoriand suitablyattached `arm on the correspon ing trolley; andanother link connecting said two arms.

7. In mechanism of the character de-4 scribed, the combination with ahorizontally disposed cover, of parallel rails extending horizontallyfrom the normal closed position of said cover, the inner ends of saidrails inclining downwardly; trolleys movable along said rails, resectively; atransverse shaft connecting sai trolleys; a frameoscillatorily mounted on said shaft and comprising longitudinally'extending arms, lthe outer ends of said arms being guided for movementparallel with said rails; two cradles resiliently attached to said coveradjacent the uided for movevrespective sides thereof; links connectingthe inner ends of said armswith said cradles, respectively, one of saidlinks being provided with an upwardly extending arm; an. upstanding armon the corresponding trolley; and another'link connecting said two arms.l

8. In mechanism of the lcharacter described, the combination withahorizontally disposed cover, of parallel rails extending horizontallyfrom the normal closed posi-y tion of said cover,`the inner ends of saidrails inclinin downwardly; trolleys movable alon said rails,respectively; a transverse sha t connecting said trolleys; a framevoscillatorily mounted on said shaft and comprising longitudinallyextending arms, the outer ends of said arms being guided for movementparallel with said rails; two cradles resiliently attached to saidcoverI adjacent the respective sides thereof; links connectin the innerends ofsaid arms with said c rad es, respectively, one of said linksbein provided with an upstanding arm; anot er link parallel with one ofthe aforesaid links additionally connecting the'corresponding arm andcradle; an upstandingv arm on the trolley corresponding to the link withupwardly extending arm; and another link connecting said two arms.

9. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with ahorizontally disposed cover; of arallel rails extending horizontallyfrom 't e normal closed position of said cover, the inner ends ofl saidrails inclinin downwardly; trolleys movable alon said railsrespectively; a transverse sha t connecting saiddtrolle'ys; a frameoscillatorily mounted on said shaft and comprising longitudinallyextending arms, the outer ends of said arms being guidedfor movementparallel with said rails; links connecting the inner ends of said armswith disposed cover; of parallel rails extending horizontally from the`normal closed position of said cover, the inner ends of said railsinclinin downwardly; trolleys movable along said rails respectively; atransverse shaft connecting said trolleys; a frame oscillatorily mountedon said shaft and comprising longitudinally extending arms, the outerends of said arms being guided for `movement parallel with Vsaid rails;links connecting the inner ends of said arms with said cover, one ofsaid links being provided with an upwardly extending arm; an upstandingarmon the corresponding trolley; another link connecting said two arms;,an oscillatory shaft mounted transversely of said rails adjacent theirouter ends; a crank on said shaft; and a link connecting said crank withthe shaft connecting said trolleys.

11. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ahorizontally movable cover; a supporting frame for said coverrecip-rocable towards and from the.

normal closed 'posi-tion of the latter; means adapted to osclllate saidframe to raise and lower said cover incidentally to reciprocation ofsaid frame; an oscillatory shaft v mounted transversely of the directionof movement of said frame; and connections between said shaft and frameadapted to reciprocate the latter upon oscillation of said sha-ft. j

' 12. In mechanism ofl the character de- `wards and from the normalclosed movable cover; a supporting'frame for said cove` reciprocabletowards and from. the

scribed, the combination ci a horizontally normal closed position of thelatter; means w `-with said frame.

13. In mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination yof ahorizontallyl movable cover; a frame reciprocable towards and from thenormal closed position of said cover; cradle means resilientlysuspending said cover from said frame; and equalizing links between saidframe and said crad'e means for maintaining the cover horizontal duringmovement.

14e. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of ahorizontally movable cover; a frame reciprocable towards and from thenormal' closed position of' said cover; two cradles resiliently attachedto said cover adjacent the respective sides thereof; and linksconnecting said frame withsaid cradles. 15. In mechanism of thecharacter described, the combination of' a horilaontally movable cover;a frame reciprocable toe osition of said cover, said frame comprism twohorizontally extending arms; two crad es resiliently attached to saidcover adjacent the respective sides thereof; links connecting the innerends of said frame arms with said cradles, respectively; and anotherlink parallel with one of the aforesaid links additionally connectin oneof said arms and the corresponding cra le.

' WLLLIAM s. oRR.

Signed by me, this 29th day of September,

